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your name to those who recognize that police work can lead to suicide.
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Suicides "never happen" as a result of police work. At least, that's what many chiefs of
police say.
In the United
States, 140 - 150 police officers kill themselves each year--but never because of the job--say these chiefs.
Instead, they blame the officer for some personal defect or, if all else fails, they blame the spouse.
Over the past
three years, there were almost 450 police suicides (150 each year). Not a single one was attributed to the
stress and trauma of the job.
In lectures and
interviews across the country, there is talk about how "stressful" police work is.
But can the horrors
and nightmares of police work, the terrors of near-death experiences over ten, twenty and thirty years lead some officers
to suicide? The answer is an obvious, "Yes." No one is suggesting that all police suicides are work related--of
course not. But, over and over, we are seeing cases where officers have even received medals of valor for
their bravery--and then seen the same event that earned them the medal devastate and kill them by suicide.
As one writer
said, succinctly, “In some ways, a cop's work may be even more traumatic
than that of a soldier sent into a war zone.The police officer's job, over many
years, exposes and re-exposes them to traumatic events that would make anybody recoil in horror.”
This is not a time for us to hide behind excuses like, "But the Public Safety Officers'
Benefits Program (PSOB) doesn't pay out for suicides." We need to stand up and speak for what is right.
Money doesn't decide honor.
We need to care about our officers and their families. Not just say we do.
Start by adding your name below to show you recognize that police work CAN lead to suicide. It's as easy as an e-mail
to badgeoflife@gmail.com
In time, through our combined voices, we hope to make a difference. Currently,
the words on the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall ring hollow: "It is not how they died that made them heroes--it
is how they lived."
If these words were sincere, many a missing hero's name would be on that wall.
Join us in sending a message by adding your name to this list of "pipers." Just let
us know at badgeoflife@gmail.com.
Police
suicide is a line-of-duty death, and the officer must be respected and honored
in the same way as those who die as a result of combat or accidents. After interviewing hundreds of police officers for my
book CopShock, most of whom admitted to suicidal thoughts and some attempts, I have become enlightened. My hope is that all
police chiefs and other administrators will finally recognize the obvious—trauma suffered on the job may lead to suicide.
Allen R. Kates, MFAW, BCECR
Author of “CopShock, Second Edition: Surviving
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)”.
California Highway Patrol Officer Aaron Gilliland was presented the California Medal of Valor after suffering burns
and breaking his back rescuing two people from a burning car. After lengthy emotional struggles that arose after the
incident and injury, Aaron Gilliland took his own life in 2009.
Aaron's heroism and Medal of Valor were of little account to the California Highway Patrol as he was buried.
"It's not how you live that makes you a hero--it's how you die."
In 1980, Toronto Police Officer Edward Adamson was forced to wait outside the door as heavily armed gunmen allowed
another officer, pleading for his life, to bleed to death. The ensuing shootout in which he was involved added to the
nightmares he had until he could stand it no more and took his own life in 2005.
Sergeant Adamson's death was ruled "in the line of duty" death by the workmans' compensation board. In
spite of pleas from officers and the community, the police department refuses to follow the board's decision and honor Sgt.
Adamson's death as "In the line of duty."
Linda Adamson, wife of the late Sergeant Edward Adamson
of the Toronto Police Department, who lost his life to suicide after severe PTSD suffered in his heroic efforts to rescue
a dying comrade.
Julie Adamson, Police Officer and daughter of the late
Sergeant Edward Adamson, a hero and victim of line of duty suicide.
Jane L Combs, survivor of suicide
John Morgan, a good friend of Sergeant Edward Adamson--"in support
of Ed and all officers who have succumbed to PTSD."
I am a retired Police Sergeant and served for over 25 years. I met
and married my husband, also an officer, and we had 2 beautiful children. When they were still little, my
husband was working traffic and made a car stop. The end result was that the driver sped off with my husband hanging
on to the window of the car for dear life. The driver grabbed his sawed off shotgun and my husband put all 6 rounds from his
service revolver into the young man's chest as the vehicle was still speeding down the road.
My husband was always haunted by the look of that man filled with hatred, even with
his heart splattered all over the windshield. My husband had no choice but to let go of the car and drop to the ground.
The car ran over him and crushed both of his knee caps. That was the beginning of the end. He suffered PTSD,
which was not diagnosed until after his death.
I fought the retirement board for MANY years to change my husband's
death to an Industrial Death. They voted against me, even though a Workman's Comp. judge ruled it as an industrial
death. I took it to Superior Court and the judge ordered the police department to change it to a work
related death. My husband died on New Year's Day. (Name Withheld)
Detective Clinton G. Watkins. "Love and miss you, Dad and Mom."
Vina Stephens (Former Police Officer) BA and MS Criminal Justice
Patricia Koh,
Boulder Police Department, in honor of her beloved companion, Darrell K. Honza, 11-2-1955 to 10-21-2010, Scott County S.O., Shakopee, Minnesota.
Officer
Mike Huwer MTPD (Ret), in memory of Officers Kent Biggs and Nick Foote, both MTPD.
Jerry and Shirley Watkins, in memory
of Detective Clinton G. Watkins. "Always just a breath away, one beat of my heart."
James W. Warriner, MC, NCC, LAC Lieutenant,
retired AZ DPS President, Arizona Concerns of Police Survivors (a 501c3 organization) Surviving Co-Worker 1979 - 2009
Out-of-control police administrators drove the heroic veteran NYPD lieutenant
Michael Pigott to his death. Said his wife, "They ripped his heart out." No one questions that this was a line of duty death.
Will the name of this hero be inscribed on any memorial walls—anywhere?
Lt Michael Pigott--Driven to suicide by his own department.
Sergeant Steve Hunt, Patrol
Division, Idaho Falls Police Department
Lisa Houle, Deputy District
Attorney, Los Angeles County
Kirk Kettridge
Sgt. (Rev.) Jarvis C.. Burlingame, Troy PA police, 39 years service and
former Chief of Police
Beth Novotny, in memory of Detective Benjamin Novotny, of the Eastham,
MA police
Sgt T.A. Billingsly, Current Deputy Sheriff and
retired police officer suicide survivor.
Bill Truesdell, SPHR, publisher Managing Police
Stress and Soldier of the City
Francis M Doig, NYPD (Ret.),
National Police Suicide Foundation, Ordained Pastor and Crisis Chaplain (available for NY service)
Thomas Andrews - Inspector (retired)
Debborah Reid, Retired Police Sergeant
Detective
Joanne Waite #548, York Regional Police, Crimes Against Children Unit
Katherine
Closs - with thanks.
Ed Ciolkosz, Criminal Justice Instructor/Police Suicide Awareness Trainer
Brian Cahill, in memory of his son, Officer John Cahill
Sgt Nancy Csabanyi #1594, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, In Memory of
all who felt the need to stop the pain.
Amber Frank, community worker, suicide prevention
Constable Kirsti K. Haaka #416, Hamilton Police Service, Ontario, Canada – “In Life, Not Death.”
"I think there is a special place in heaven for those
officers who have committed suicide. A place close to God's heart and under his arm. A place to heal their hearts and souls
and to rest a while from the tragedy and sorrow they endured. And I truly think they are in heaven with full honors and respect
and peace at last. May they rest in God's arms, they have earned it."
--A Piper
Brooke Huber, MSN, ANP-BC
José Kirchner
Michael Apodaca, Sergeant II, Los Angeles Police Department Retired President,
Los Angeles Police Emerald Society Pipes And Drums
Detective
Al Sheppard (Ret), NYCPD-Major Case Squad
Doug Kavanagh, Constable #3704, Toronto Police Service. In honour of S/Sgt Eddie Adamson. I have not forgotten.
Retired Maryland State Trooper
Tfc. Haines and wife Jessica Haines. We vow to dedicate our lives to speaking out for law enforcement PTSD.
Cpl. Julia
Gilroy, MCPD, Rockville, MD
Rarchael
Guarnieri, police officer and in honor of a lost comrade.
Ivie M. Nance
Deb Phillips, Survivor of a law
enforcement suicide, ret. Placer County Sheriff, Calif.
Cathie Coombs
Dave Laveck, Chief of Police
(ret.)
Ret.Cpl.Lance Red Hawk Shauger,
SRT/SWAT Officer.
Sgt. Edward Pallas, Montgomery
County Police
Lt. Don Rasmuson, Supervisor,
UND Police Dept, Grand Forks, ND
John E.Parker, Sr. Retired with
28 yrs. of proud service. Davis Police Dept. CA.
r.i.p. -- kenny hamilton,
d/sgt 500, scpd(ny).
Add your name by writing Ron Clark at badgeoflife@gmail.com and saying, "Please add my name as a piper."
Please provide a link if you would like it included!
